The vertebrate fauna of Lane Cove National Park

Overview

This report documents a systematic survey of vertebrate fauna within Lane Cove National Park and adjacent council-managed land, undertaken by OEH (then the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC)) between February and May 2004. In particular, the survey focused on fauna within the recent Pennant Hills additions to the park.

This was the first time that the study area had been systematically surveyed, and the results provide a baseline against which future work might be compared.

DEC established and surveyed 47 fauna survey sites, covering the range of dominant habitats and landscapes present within the study area. A range of survey methods were applied to sample birds, reptiles, arboreal and terrestrial mammals and frogs.

Results

One hundred and six vertebrate fauna species were observed during the survey period, including 17 species that had not previously been recorded within the park (14 native and three introduced species). Over 670 records were collected during the surveys, including 345 within the boundaries of the park and 331 in neighbouring lands, thereby vastly increasing the knowledge of fauna distribution, abundance and habitat use in the area.

Four species that are listed as threatened in NSW were recorded. These were the powerful owl, red-crowned toadlet, eastern bent-wing bat and grey-headed flying-fox. The study area supports particularly high numbers of powerful owl and red-crowned toadlet, contributing significantly to the survival of these species within the region.

The gang-gang cockatoo was recorded, which in the north of the study area is part of the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai local government area population. This is listed as an endangered population in the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act).

Ten introduced species, including four birds and six ground mammals, were recorded. Three of these (cat, fox and rabbit) are listed as key threatening processes under the TSC Act.

A complete list of animal species in the park was derived from the Atlas of NSW Wildlife. A total of 156 species have been recorded within the study area since 1950, including 19 threatened species and 15 introduced species.

The survey results indicate that Lane Cove National Park supports a diverse mix of animal species and plays an integral role in the survival of a number of native animals within the region.

All of the records collected during the survey have been entered into the Atlas of NSW Wildlife, which can be accessed by park management staff and members of the public.